BATTLE OF I26 CONTINUES

The Columbia and Charleston Tours continued their running battle at their favorite venue located conveniently between Charleston and Columbia, Orangeburg Country Club.  As usual, the course was in great shape, the greens were true and quick. The pace of play was really good till the end and the weather gave us a day without a pop-up thunderstorm!   It was a long day but their seemed to be no complaints as everyone enjoyed the course!

The Championship flight was first out and they set the pace firing at the par three pins and making birdies from just over 7 thousand yards!  Eric Neidermeyer showed just how tough that flight is by eagling the second hole.  It was fellow Columbia tour member that proved to be the strongest of the day, firing a 77 form the tips, congratulations to Jeff Homad on a great round and a closest to the pin on hole 17.  Marty Bunch of Charleston was the runner up with a solid round of 80. 

In the A flight Charleston kept up their dominating performance as just like the Southern Regional, Charleston Swept the first four spots.  Glenn Powell fired a 75 to edge out playing partner Andy Balao by one shot.  Coming in third one shot behind Andy was Will Gwaltney who posted a 77 to edge Dennis Slezak by a single shot.  Dennis had a rough finish but still posted a very nice 78 for fourth. 

The B flight had the round of the day.  John Havrilack of Charleston fired a one under par round of 71 to easily take top honors for the day. John had an eagle and six birdies for his first victory ever on the Golf Week Tour.  Congratulations John, a career round!  Coming in second was Columbia’s Dave Ezel who fired a nice round of 80 to finish two shots better than Bill Chick of Charleston.  Rounding out the top four was Columbia’s Kier Anderson who posted an 82 but lost a scorecard playoff to Bill. 

The C flight had another great round as Columbia’s Cleve Johnson posted a super round of 78 that included an eagle!  Great Round Cleve!  Coming in second was Charleston’s Joey Blicker who carded an 82 and rounding out the top three was Bryan Wilkerson who posted a nice round of 84.

Charleston took the top two spots in the D flight as Vince Ackerman bested Aaron Chase by a single shot, 89 to 90.  These tow seem to battle it out every tournament!  Coming in third was Columbia’s Mark Melton two shots behind Aaron.

Our next event is a combo with the Myrtlebeach gang.  It is on Aug 13, let me know ASAP If you want to play as it will be a sell out as well! 

Just for the record the Battle of I26 has been going on for a few years and is punctuated by the Ryder Cup format event in Nov between these two tours…..Always a fun and exciting event!